NBA Betting: Celtics Big Favorites Against Milwaukee

The Bucks and Celtics face off for the second straight time tonight in Boston. Milwaukee snapped their longest losing streak in over 16 years in the opener of a home-and-home set with the Celtics, and will try to win consecutive games for the first time this season. The Bucks are 3-13 on the season, but have beaten Boston twice already this year. Milwaukee used its team speed and scored easy baskets against Boston on Saturday, holding a 16-4 edge in fast break points in a 92-85 win. O.J. Mayo led the way with 22 points, with Brandon Knight throwing in 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Defense was the story last Saturday, however. Milwaukee held the Celtics to 4-of-19 shooting from 3-point range Saturday.

“We were running zone,” Bucks coach Larry Drew said. “We didn’t run a lot of man-to-man that first half, but when we started running our zone, we just waited to see if they were going to make shots. They didn’t fall for them, so we stuck with it and it seemed to have an effect.”

Boston is 7-12 on the season, averaging 93 points per game while giving up 96.6. They are 10-9-0 against the spread, with their over/under record 6-13-0. When their opponents have the ball, the Celtics are allowing 45% shooting from the field, including 32% from the three point line. Its defensive rebounding rate off those misses is 73%, and the team is averaging 8 steals and 4.8 blocks per game so far this season.

On offense, the Celtics are shooting 45% from the field, including 33% from deep. Their free throw percentage so far this season is 76%, and they have gotten rebounds off their own misses 25% of the time. Boston has turned the ball over 16.7 times per game this year, and have seen their shots blocked an average of 4.9 times per game.

The Bucks are scoring 89.2 points per game so far this season, en route to a 3-13 record overall and a 5-11-0 record against the spread. Milwaukee has given up 98.7 PPG, and have an O/U record of 6-10-0 on the year.

On defense, the Bucks have held their opponents to a 47% field goal percentage, 34% from three point land. They are creating 16 turnovers per game , and blocking 4.6 shots per game. Their assist to turnover ratio is 1.26. The Bucks are shooting 42% from the field so far this season, with a 38% success rate from beyond the three point line. Their overall rebound percentage is 47%; its offense rebound rate is 23% with the defense collecting 72% of their opponent’s misses. The Bucks are shooting 77% at the free throw line this year.